Frozen rates for everyone else!
BP cuts
Well done one and all! To each and every member (and non-member) bold enough to raise a grievance against the proposed cuts to conditions, we congratulate you. There is no doubt the significant number of grievances that were lodged influenced the decision to abandon the idea. You sent a strong message to your employers that you wouldn’t take this lying down and it’s delivered. Well done to you all, it shows what can be achieved when you stick together.
Staying with the issue of grievance for a moment; we received a number of enquiries asking what the difference is between “recognition” and “representation”, especially in cases like the BP one where members raise grievances against proposed cuts or any other issue. All we need to say here is - you have the right to be ‘represented’ on an individual basis by a union official of your choice, and not your employers. This is your right in law and your employer must comply. If you want more information on this issue please email me; HYPERLINK "mailto:jake@oilc.org" jake@oilc.org or one of my colleagues; HYPERLINK "mailto:oilc.secretary@gmail.com" oilc.secretary@gmail.com or HYPERLINK "mailto:oilc.chairman@gmail.com" oilc.chairman@gmail.com and we can send it on.
Before the news broke about BP’s change of heart another question being asked was – “when will we be balloted if BP force this through?” Ballots, and/or industrial action of any kind, are issues we would all rather avoid if possible. None of us want trouble, all we want to do is go to work and receive a fair return for our labour. So everything that can be done will be done to avoid the need for such action. The immediate threat has gone for now, but we must always be prepared as we don’t know what lies ahead. To make sure we are prepared we would like every member working on a BP installation and employed by PSN; Wood Group; Salamis; Cape or Sparrows; to register with the Aberdeen office using any of the email addresses above or else call 01224 210118. We will need the following details from you;
Name and address
Membership number
Employer and place of employment
OILC/RMT is a member run, democratically structured organisation. In short, it’s the members that decide what course of action is taken to resist changes to terms and conditions. To ensure every member has a voice in the process we must have all of the above information. We also need it to ensure we meet the strict requirements of current trade union laws. It is therefore extremely important you register, do it now, thanks.
Forties Apache
We can report a little bit of good news for once, as the contract change (from Wood Group to Petrofac) has finally been sorted out and workers will have the opportunity to transfer over in accordance with TUPE. In other words, the troops will remain on the same terms and conditions and will have their service carried over. Of course the workforce still aren’t getting the OCA 4-weeks leave entitlement and rumours suggest that Apache will try to force a change of rota to a 3x3 cycle, so watch this space!